asked the Minister for Education if he is willing to make special financial provision in respect of St. Joseph's Primary School, East Wall, Dublin, which is in danger of closing in the near future due to lack of funds arising from the effect of the capitation grant system on low roll schools which provide a vital service in city areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Capitation Grants System.
2.
There are two schools at East Wall, Dublin—
(i) St. Joseph's (Boys);
(ii) Naomh Joseph (Cailiní).
The boy's school was built in 1938 and has 12 rooms. The enrolment for September, 1977, was, however, only 81—— sufficient for three teachers.
The girl's school was built in 1968 and has 9 classrooms and a domestic economy room. The enrolment in September was 222—sufficient for six teachers.
It may be that some rationalisation of facilities would help towards achieving more economical standards of cost of maintenance of the schools and my Department propose to have discussion with the boards of management in this regard.
In view of the Minister's obvious concern would the Minister give a guarantee that the school will not be closed due to a lack of funds from his Department?
This school is being well sustained. Deputy Brady was on to me, and Senator Mulcahy got a large sum of money for it.
I am sure a variety of representatives have been on, including myself.
Including the Deputy. Deputy Brady and Senator Mulcahy were also on.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Next question.
The Minister has not quite answered my supplementary yet.
I was not allowed to, I was interrupted by several Deputies. I mentioned rationalisation, and in that context it would seem to indicate that we are anxious to keep the school open.
The Minister is not quite willing to commit himself to the possibility of it being closed.
There would not be any point in having a study made about rationalisation if I committed myself beforehand. If I did that the people who wanted rationalisation might find it was not rational to keep it open. I am not saying it is or it is not.
Does the Minister appreciate this school could be closed within a matter of months?
I do not think that is so.
That is the information I had long before the general election when the representations from the Minister's colleagues apparently came to his attention.
The indication here is that in September, 1977, there were 81 pupils and three teachers. I cannot see what the alarm is about.
Would the Minister accept the situation is that the school simply has not enough capital or money in its accounts to maintain the school as it is regardless of the number of pupils or teachers?
There has been an increased grant, as the Deputy knows, for such small schools.
That has always been the case, but it is not enough.
As I said in my answer——
Question No. 3. We are having an argument about this.
——some rationalisation of facilities would help towards achieving more economical standards of costs and maintenance. If we can achieve that it will help to prolong the life of the school. That is the way I read it.